Cover for range tops



Aug. 19, 1941- A. H. BRODBECK l COVER FOR RANGE TPs Filed oct. 25, 1959 f/vrfA/v-a/F /Vrra/PA/fni n n l u Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVERv FOR RANGE TOPS Aimer H. Brodbcck, St. Louis, Mo., assigner lto American Stove Company, St. Louis, Mo., a. corporation of New Jersey Application October Z3, 1939, Serial No. 300,853

18 Claims.

The present invention pertains particularly and specically to a counter-balanced cover for the cooking top portion of a range and has as one o! its objects the provision of such a cover which is extremly simple and cheap to manufacture and highly eilicient in operation.

The invention has as a further object that of providing a novel arrangement for detachably securing the cover to a range.

Another and still further object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple yet unique and highly eiiicient means of rotatably securing the cover to its support.

Another and still further object of the invention is to provide a cover having the preceding recited attributes in which the supporting means for the cover as well as the connection between the cover and its support are concealed from view.

Other objects as well as novel features of construction which give to the invention an improved operation, will appear more in detail from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing.

In `the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooking top of a range having applied thereto the present improved invention.

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in vertical section, illustrating the application of the cover to the range and the pivotal connection between the cover and its support.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail View, partially in vertical section, illustrating the connection betweenthe ends of the cover supporting members.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in enlargement a portion of the construction illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing'.

The present invention is illustrated as being applied to a'domestic gas range, but it is to be understood that it could be equally well applied to ranges of other constructions in which it is desired to provide a swinging or movable cover for the cooking top or a portion thereof. The range illustrated is of the divided cooking top type with the consequence that two covers are ilnot blend in as well with the appearance of the range as does the present two-piece cover.

-Changes and alterations in numerous and many details over the particular and specific construction illustrated in the drawing could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the terms of the hereinafter appended claims.

Describing the invention in detail, it being clearly understood that the specific range illustrated in the drawing is symbolic of any conventional range, 6 designates the cooking top frame in the opposite ends of which are grids 'I constituting open cooking top portions and between which lies the table top or Working portion 8, all of which is quite conventional in a divided top table top type of range. Also in conformity with customary practice the range is provided with a splash back or guard A which extends entirely or substantially entirely across the rear end of the range and extends vertically thereabove for a considerable distance. In the present instance the splash back is bulged outwardly over the working portion 8 of the range as indicated at 9, which construction provides what appear to be setbacks IU in the splash back immediately behind each of the grid or cooking top `portions of the range top. As will be apparent from the drawing and will appear from the following description, these set-backs act as pockets to receive the covers when in an open position and permits them to be folded whereby they are so disposed as to constitute no obstruction Whatever to the use of the entire area or surface of the cooking top portions of the range top,

The covers are designated as an entirety at B and `in the present specific embodiment are made in two pieces II and I2 each of which, in cross sectional contour, is of. a pan-like construction in that it has depending circumferential side walls I3. The cover portions II and I2 have two bodiment of the invention as illustrated are twopart covers, but it is to be understood that the principle `of the inventionlcould be applied to a one-piece cover even though such a cover might of their ends or edges disposed in parallelism and substantially abutting relationship and are secured together for rotative movement by hinges I4 or the equivalent. nection between the lid or cover portions permits them to be arranged in back to back relationship, such as is illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 5 of the drawing.

To add rigidity to the cover parts or sections the ilanges I3 adjacent the hinges have inwardly bent and extending leg portions I5. The foremost or front cover or lid portion I2 is provided with a nger or hand-hold I6 by which the cover The hinged conis manipulated in its movement from an open to a closed position, and vice versa.

The cover is rotatably mounted upon a support made up of a pair of wires or rods I1 and |18 the outer ends of which are bent at right angles to form legs I3 and 20 respectively which extend downwardly into suitable sockets 2| and 22 provided in the cooking top 6 adjacent its rear end immediately behind the grid 1 and immediately in front of the upwardly extending vertical wall 23 of said frame. The inner ends of these wires or rods are notched out as at 24 and` 25 respectively so that when tic inner ends of the wires are inserted within a sl-eve 26 and a pin 21 passed through the wire ends and the sleeve the wires or rods are held against any rotative movement and are likewise held against longitudinal movement within the sleeve. For the purpose of supporting these rods in spaced horizontal relatlonship to the top face of the frame their legs I8 and 20 are provided with flanges 28 which abut and rest. upon the face of the cooking top frame 6. The wires or rods I1 and I8 serve as the entire support for the covers, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and in moving the cover from an open to a closed position it swings or rotates about them.

The cover is secured to the wires or rods by what might well be termed trunnions the construction of which vill now be described. There is a trunnion adjacent each side of a cover and description of one will suiilce to describe the other. member designated asV an entirety by C having a main leg or back portion 29 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured tothe under side of the rear cover portion II at its rear end and preferably closely adjacent one side thereof. The back portion of the trunnion at one side or end is bentinto a U-shape to provide a leg portion 30 which parallels and preferably abuts the rear inturned flange 3| of this cover section and a second front leg 32 which parallels and is in sepa-V rated relationship to the back of the trunnion. This construction forms a channel or' pocket which rotatably receives the wire I8 as is clearly apparent in the detailed illustration comprising Figure of the drawing. At its opposite side or end the back 29 of the trunnion throughout its width is bent downwardly to form a lip 33.

The construction thus far described provides a trunnion having an open top. To close the top of the trunnion and support the cover on the wires- I1 and I8 I provide a trunnion closure or top designated as an entirety at D. This member D is preferably made of spring steel and comprises a main plate portion 34 having a bottom or rear wall 35 which is of a dimension to close the open top of the trunnion or the channlelway formed by the U-shaped end of the trunnion plate or rear wall 29. The upper end 35 ofthe trunnion closure plate D extends under the lip 33 and, as clearly appears in the drawing, the main plate portion 34 of the closure is under spring or resilient tension as this plate is bowed between its bottom or rear wall 35 and its upper end 36.

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that the cover is rotatably supported upon the wires or rods I1 and I8 by the trunnion closure D which is held in place by the inherent spring tension. of this plate. Furthermore the arrangement provides an extremely simple construction for rotatably supporting the cover. Additionally the arrangement is such as Each trunnion comprises a sheet inetall to be cheap and simple to manufacture and facilitateaand reduces the cost of assembly. The arrangement also eliminates the necessity for bolts or other slrnilar fastening devices the elimination of which not only reduces the cost of manufacture and cost of assembly but also eliminates elements which tend to detract from the appearance of the cover and range.

For the purpose of counter-balancing the cover and assuring that it will remain open when moved to that position I provide a pair of counter-.balancing springs 31 which are coiled about the wires I1 and I8 respectively and disposed `,on those wires intermediate the trunnions and the adjacent ends of the sleeve 26. The inner ends 38 of these wires are secured within slots 39 provided in the sleeve while the opposite or outer ends 40 of the springs are elongated and left straight and resiliently engage the under side of the rear cover section II and tend normally to exert a pressure thereagainst which pressure tends, when the covers are opened, to maintain them in a vertical plane and parallel to the splash back at the rear of the range.

When, as illustrated in the drawing, a divided or two-part cover is utilized and the cover parts when the cover is opened assume a back to back relationship, it vwill be seen that the cover supporting means and the cover counter-balancing mechanism is entirely concealed from view irrespective of whether the cover is closed or open. 'Ihe front edge I3 of the front cover portion I2 does not extend down into the plane of the rear edge or back 3| of the rear cover portion which theoretically would make it possible to see the vertical legs 32 of the trunnions when the covers are in an open position. Actually however these legs of the trunnions are in a practical sense concealed from view by the grids or cooking top portions 1 of the range the tops of which are closely adjacent the front edge I3 of the front cover portion I2 when the covers are in an open position. If desirable for the purposes of avoiding any possibility of detracting from the appearance of the range, the trunnion legs 32 can be given a iinish or exterior appearance similar to the rest of the range. When the covers are in a closed position the trunnion legs 32 are of course completely concealed from view.

In addition to the attributes previously enumerated a cover together with its supporting means can be bodily lifted and removed from the range by merely lifting the cover vertically. A vertical movement of the cover will'disengage the cover supporting rods or wires I1 and I8 from engagement with their respective sockets 2| and 22 and as the cover is removed all of the apparatus or mechanism forming a Dart thereof is removed intact with the covers which will permit the cover tobe just as readily, easily and rapidly replaced on the range. This feature makes it possible for the user of the range to dispense with the cover if for any reason that should be desirable, and additionally makes it possible for the range manufacturer to simplify the problem of providing for the trade ranges with or without covers.

It will be equally as obvious that if for any reason it is desirable or necessary to detach the cover from its supporting rods or wires I1 and I8 this can be accomplished with a minimum of eiort and simplicity by the mere removal of the trunnion closures D.

I claim:

1. In a range, a cooking portion. a cover support on said range, a multi-piece cover for said cooking portion including a rear cover section movably mounted on said support so that the cover can be moved from an open to a closed position and vice versa in respect to said cooking portion, means counter-balancing a portion of the weight of said cover during the opening and closing movements thereof positioned at the under side and within the rear cover section, and quick detachable connection means between said cover support and the range, whereby the cover can be readily removed from or attached to the range.-

2.In a range, a cooking top section, a twopart cover therefor having front `and rear sections. a pivotal support for said cover to permit it to be moved from an open to a closed position and vice versa in respect to said cooking top portion, said cover sections being movable in respect to one another and into back to back relationship, means counterbalancingv a portion of the weight of said cover during the opening and closing movements thereof positioned at the under side and within the rear cover` section, and a quick detachable connection between the pivotal support of said cover and said range.

3; Inra range, acooking top portion, a twopart cover therefor having front and rear sections, said cover sections foldable in back to back relationship and each being of a pan-like formation, a pivot on said range, trunnions at the under side of and within the rear cover section, said trunnions receiving and rotatable upon said pivots, resilient counterbalancing means encircling said pivots and having one end rigidly secured against movement, said counterbalancing means being positioned within said rear cover sec tion and having their opposite ends engaging and movable with said rear cover section, and the tension of said counterbalancing means tending normally `to hold the cover in an open position.

4. In a range, a cooking top portion, a divided cover therefor the sections of which are adapted to be folded into back to back relationship, a pivotal support for said cover comprising pivots, trunnions at the under side of one of said cover sections rotatably receiving said pivots, a coil spring for counterbalancing a portion of `the weight of said cover during the rotarymovernent. y imparted to said cover on said pivots when the cover is moved from an open to a closed position and vice versa, said spring encircling said pivotal support and having `one end fixed against rotative movement and its other end bearing against a cover section and movable therewith to wind and unwind said spring in accordance with the direction of rotation of the cover, and the supporting connection between the cover and its pivot and the counterbalancing spring being disposed at the under side of and Within one of said cover sections whereby the same is concealed from view.

5. A construction such as defined in claim 4, wherein the pivotal supporting means for the c'over has a quick detachable connection with the range, whereby the cover can be quickly and easily applied to or removed from the range.

6. In a range, a cooking top portion, a pair of sockets at one side thereof in spaced aligned relationship, a cover support having ends disposed within said sockets and freely removable therefrom, said support comprising a sleeveand a two-part rod-like member the ends of which overlap and are disposed within said sleeve, a key passing through the overlapped ends of the support and said sleeve to prevent both rotary and longitudinal movement of the two parts comprising the support, a cover for the cooking top composed of a front and a rear section foldable into back to back relationship, a pair of trunnions on the under side of and within the rear cover section and rotatable on said support, the major portion of said support being disposed at the under side of and within said rear cover section and being encircled by a coil spring one end of which is anchored to said support and the other end of which is movable and bears against the under side of said rear cover section, and said cover together with its support being quickly f' and easily removable from or attachable to said range as a complete unit.

7. A construction such as defined in claim 6, wherein the trunnions at one side have closure members held in position solely under spring tension, and said trunnion closures being quickly detachable from said trunnions, whereby said cover can be quickly and easily attached to or detached from its support.

8. In a range having a top provided with a cooking portion, upwardly extending sockets having open upper iends located adjacent one side of said range top in spaced aligned relationship, a rod having downwardly extending ends forming quick detachable connections with said sockets, and a cover for said cooking portion rotatably supported on said rod for movement from open to closed positions and vice versa with respect to said range top cooking portion.

9. In a range, a. top including a cooking top section, a cover support having quick detachable connection with said range top, a cover for said cooking top section pivotally mounted on said support for movement from an open to a closed position and vice versa, means for counterbalancing a portion of the weight 0f said cover as the same is moved from an open to a closed position and vice versa with respect to said cooking top section, and said cover and its support being quickly detachable from said range top when the cover is in either an open or a closed position.

10. In a range, a cooking top portion, a twopart cover therefor having front and rear sections interconnected and movable into back to back relationship, means movably supporting said cover on said range to permit the cover to assume an open or a closed position with respect to the range cooking top portion, means positioned at the underside of the rear cover section acting to. counterbalance a portion of the weight of said cover during the opening andclos ing movements thereof, and said cover supporting means having quick detachable 'connection with the range to permit the cover to be quickly removed from and applied to said range.

ll. Ina range, a top and a cover therefor, a hinge for said cover and carried thereby, resilient means connected to said hinge and cover acting to counterbalance a portion of the Weight of said cover as the same is moved from open to closed positions about said hinge, said range being provided with openings constituting sockets, and said cover hinge having portions extending beyond said cover and having quick detachable connection with said sockets.

l2. In a range, a top including a cooking section, a cover for said cooking section, sockets extending downwardly into said range top at one side thereof and disposed in spaced relationship, a hinge for said cover, and said hinge provided with portions extending into and having quick detachable connection with said sockets.

13. In a range, a top including a cooking section, a cover for said section, a pintle carried by said cover and adapted to act as a pivot upon which said cover can be swung to an open or a closed position, said pintie provided with portions disposed in spaced relationship and extending at right angles to the main portion of the pintle, sockets carried by said range, and the extending portions of said pintle having quick detachable connection with said sockets whereby said cover may be quickly applied to or removed from said range.

14. A construction such as deiined in claim 13 wherein, said pintle has quick detachable connection with said cover, whereby the cover can be quickly removed from the range by optionally disengaging the pintle from its sockets or disengaging the cover from its pintle.

15. A construction such as defined in claim 9 wherein, the cover counter-balancing means is carried by the cover support and is removable with the cover from said range.

16. A construction such as deilned in clalm.9 wherein, the cover is made up oi' front and rear sections interconnected and movable in back to back relationship, and the cover counter-balancing means is positioned at the under side of the rear cover section and is concealed from view by the i'ront cover section when the cover is raised and the sections are disposed in the described back to back relationship.

17. In a range, a top portion and a cover therefor, a pintle mounted on said range and serving as a hinge about which said cover may be swung from an open to a Iclosed position and vice versa with respect to said range top portion, a plurality ot open trunnions carried by said cover for rotatably receiving said pintle, said trunnions being positioned at the under side oi' said cover, closures for the open sides of said trunnions, said closures having a portion extending 'across the open side of said trunnions and a resilient portion connected thereto, and. means at the under side of said cover adapted to engage and hold the resilient portion of said closures under tension to maintain said closures in closure relationship to said trunnions under resilient tension.

18. A construction such as defined in claim 17 wherein, said trunnion closures receive and support the entire weight of said cover when the same is in an open position, theresilient tension imposed upon said closures being sufiicient to support the weight of said cover, and said closures being quickly removable to provide for detachment of the cover from said pintle.

l ALMER H. BRODBECK. 

